508 
criteria for what is harmful to the marine environment, what is 
going to be harmful to our economy, particularly of the coastal 
tates. 
And I would strongly recommend to you that you make sure that 
that is communicated to the proper individuals on behalf of your 
organization. 
I am very concerned about the whole problem of dumping of 
sewage sludge in the Atlantic, particularly when it comes to those 
contaminants like PCB’s cadmium, and mercury. I realize that just 
perhaps a trace is not harmful. But when it becomes more than a 
trace it may be extremely harmful and extremely expensive and 
can cause a great deal of human suffering. 
I am delighted to hear you gentlemen say that you feel the 
burden of proof should be not on the EPA to show that there are 
adverse impacts or adverse effects before issuing the permits, but 
the burden of proof should be on the organization that is applying 
for the permit to prove that it is not going to be unreasonably 
harmful or cause unreasonable degradation of the environment. 
Mr. WuitTE. Congressman, I did not mean to give away the store. 
What I really thought I was answering was that it is the burden of 
every applicant to meet the criteria and the tests of the standards 
that EPA fixes. I don’t know that I said or that I believe that there 
is a positive burden to come in and establish that what will be put 
in the ocean does anything different than meet the criteria. I don’t 
know that we have the burden of establishing that some level of 
degradation has been reached. 
But to the extent that those criteria are established by the appro- 
priate authorities, then I think there is the obligation on the part 
of applicants to demonstrate that they can meet those tests. 
Mr. Evans. Thank you, gentlemen. 
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 
Mr. Hucues. Thank you, Mr. Evans. 
I wonder if for the record, Dr. Segar, you could provide specific 
reference to the scientific evidence which you indicate that shows 
that the level of PCB’s, mercury, cadmium, and other substances 
are at the background level you suggest in your testimony. Would 
you RUDI that for the record, whatever references you might 
ave! 
Dr. SEGAR. Congressman, we would certainly be happy to provide 
that in some period of time. Most of that information exists on 
computer data basis of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad- 
ministration. Unfortunately because of their recent budget cuts, 
they have not got that down on paper so we can provide it to you 
directly. We have computer access to it and we are working with 
that data. 
Mr. HuGues. Without objection, we will leave the record open for 
you to submit that. 
(“NOAA Technical Report NMFS SSRF-721: National Marine 
Fisheries Service Survey of Trace Elements in the Fishery Re- 
sources’ was submitted and placed in the hearing record files of 
the subcommittee. | 
Mr. Hucues. Also I would like for the record the position of your 
conference on an amendment that I intend to offer which would 
make municipalities that seek and receive permits for ocean dump- 
